That’s a lot of quarters: City to pay meter reader $60K

The City of Port St. Lucie will reinstate a demoted meter reader and pay her $60,000 to settle a race discrimination and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) lawsuit.

The meter reader, who is black, says she returned from two years of active Army duty in 2005 to find a white man had taken her job as supervisor and she had been demoted to crew leader. The woman was earning $19.56 per hour as a crew leader, while her replacement, hired four and a half years after her, earned $24.32. The settlement will restore her to the same position, salary and benefits as the man who replaced her.

Final tip: USERRA requirements are extensive. Employers can’t punish workers who serve their country in the armed forces. For guidelines on how to treat returning soldiers, go to www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.